Eraser control apparatus



Feb. 18, 1969 STQKES ET AL. 3,427,677

ERASER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1966 5 e Z W5 Kw E W 4 5 9 m Z. w M Y5 5 &| r w c 1. M (M W 2 z m Wm 4 United States Patent 3,427,677 ERASER CONTROL APPARATUS Nancy Lucille Stokes and William F. Stokes, both of Rowesville, S.C. 29133 Filed Aug, 30, 1966, Ser. No. 576,514 US. Cl. 15-434 Int. Cl. B43] 19/00 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to abrasive or eraser element control apparatus for use on pencils, electric erasing machines, and other implements or machines which use tubular cavities, hollow shafts, sleeves, or other such compartments to serve as magazines for elongated abrasive or eraser elements and which provide applicator portions of the eraser elements which project from the ends of the tubular cavities, hollow shafts, sleeves, or other such compartments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which will allow the user of the implement to which it is attached or made part of to move the elongated eraser element longitudinally in either direction along the tubular cavity, hollow shaft, sleeve, or other compartment forming the magazine of the implement and to draw the eraser element into or to eject it from the magazine of the implement by rotating one shaft or sleeve of the implement relative to another shaft or sleeve of the implement or to the body of the implement itself, such rotations being done manually by the operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which will allow the user of the machine to which it is attached or made part of to move the elongated eraser element longitudinally in either direction along the tubular cavity, hollow shaft, sleeve, or other compartment forming the magazine of the machine and to draw the eraser element into or to eject it from the magazine by rotating one shaft or sleeve of the machine relative to another shaft or sleeve of the machine or to the body of the machine itself, with power for the operation furnished by the driving motor of the machine while the machine is in operation and with the operator maintaining continuous control.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which will prevent the elongated eraser element from rotating in or moving longitudinally along the tubular cavity, hollow shaft, sleeve, or other such compartment of the implement or machine to which the device is attached or made part of until one shaft or sleeve is rotated relative to another shaft or sleeve of the implement or machine or to the body of the implement or machine itself by the operator, the releasing or engaging of no latch, chuck, vice, or other type locking apparatus being required.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the loss of time adjusting the position of the eraser element when the applicator portion wears away.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify and make easier the process of adjusting the position of the eraser element relative to the magazine of the ice implement or machine to which it is attached or made part of.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is neat, compact, attractive, simple to operate, relatively inexpensive to produce and which can be utilized wherever needed.

Still additional objects, benefits, and advantages of this invention will become evident from a study of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of an eraser control apparatus made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of another arrangement of an eraser control apparatus made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, an eraser control apparatus 1 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include hollow shaft 2, a portion of which is equipped with small blades 3 which are parallel to the axis of the shaft 2 and which protrude into the cylindrical cavity 4 formed by the inside of wall 5 of shaft 2. The small blades 3 are located near the end of shaft 2 which abuts sleeve 6 and are sharpened on the ends as well as the edge facing the axis of shaft 2.

Sleeve 6 is free to rotate on shaft 4 but is held in place longitudinally by nut 7. The inside portion of sleeve 6 extending beyond the end of shaft 2 is equipped with threads 8 which protrude into the extension of cylindrical cavity 4 and are relatively sharp.

Another arrangement of an eraser control apparatus 9 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include hollow shaft 10, a portion of the inside of which is equipped with blades 11 which protrude into an extension of cylindrical cavity 12 formed by the inside of wall 13 of sleeve 14. Sleeve 14 is free to rotate inside shaft 10 but is held in place longitudinally by nut 15. A portion of the inside of sleeve 14 near blades 11 is equipped with threads 16 which protrude inside the cylindrical cavity formed by the inside of wall 13 of sleeve 14 and are relatively sharp.

The operation of this device will now be readily understood. An elongated eraser element preferably round in .cross section and of diameter approximately equal to that of the cylindrical cavity 4 of hollow shaft 2 may may be inserted into cylindrical cavity 4 of hollow shaft 2 from the top end of shaft 2 and pushed into cylindrical cavity 4 until contact is made with blades 3 by the eraser element. Since the eraser element is of semihard material and blades 3 are parallel to the path of the eraser element, are sharpened on the ends as well as along the edge facing the center of the cylindrical cavity, and extend only a small distance into the cylindrical cavity, eraser element may be easily pushed further into the cylindrical cavity until contact is made with threads 8, blades 3 cutting slightly into the sides of the eraser element as it passes. The presence of parallel blades 3 in the sides of the eraser element tend to prevent its rotation relative to shaft 2. Sleeve 6 is then rotated relative to shaft 2 and the eraser element while slight pressure is maintained against threads 8 by the eraser element. Since the eraser element is of semi-hard material and threads 8 are sharp and extend slightly into the cylindrical cavity the eraser element is itself threaded as it passes through the threaded section of sleeve 6. As long as sufficient contact is maintained between the eraser element and blades 3 and between the eraser element and threads 8, the position of the eraser element may be adjusted longitudinally in either direction along the cylindrical cavity 4 by rotating sleeve 6 relative to shaft 2.

In the event this device is used on an electric erasing machine or other such machine, shaft 2 will be part of the driving shaft of the electric motor and the rotation of sleeve 6 relative to shaft 2 would be performed by impeding the turning or rotation of sleeve 6 by pressure from the thumb of the operator or in some similar manner while shaft 2 was being rotated by the driving motor of the electric erasing machine.

The eraser element may also be inserted into cylindrical cavity 4 from the threaded end of the sleeve. The procedure should be obvious.

This device may be used in any position.

Operation of the arrangement of this device shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 is similar to that above if the eraser is inserted from the bottom of the shaft since sleeve 14 is inside shaft 10 and threads 16 are above blades 11.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing and while various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An eraser control apparatus adaptable for use on pencils, electric erasing machines and other implements for machines to control the longitudinal movement of an elongated abrasive element contained therein, comprising in combination, a tubular shaft adapted to serve as a magazine for the elongated abrasive element, and a sleeve rotatable with respect to said shaft, said shaft adapted to have the abrasive element longitudinally adjustable therein, a portion of the inside of said tubular shaft being equipped with blades which are parallel to the axis of said shaft, said :blades protruding into the cylindrical cavity formed by the inside walls of said tubular shaft and said blades having sharpened ends and edges which face the center of the cylindrical cavity for allowing longitudinal adjustment of the abrasive e1c ment within said tubular shaft but preventing rotation of the abrasive element therein.

2. An eraser control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the inside of said sleeve is equipped with threads which are sharp and protrude slightly into the cylindrical cavity of said shaft and, when in contact with the abrasive element, allow longitudinal movement of the abrasive element to be controlled by the rotation of said sleeve relative to the abrasive element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,487 5/ 1907 Goldsmith 15-432 1,372,296 3/1921 Keeran l5429 1,766,935 6/1930 Page l5429 1,802,447 4/1931 Smith l5-430 2,068,487 l/l937 Gorrell l5430 2,198,335 4/1940 Gaimari l5429 2,403,235 7/1946 Peterson l5429 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

R. I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

